Ernest Hoosier

BELL CITY, Mo. -- Ernest Ray Hoosier, 97, of Bell City died Wednesday, April 16, 2014, following a brief illness.

He was born Jan. 29, 1917, near Himmel, Mo., to the late George Willis and Nancy Jane Lee Hoosier. He and Aletha Nadine Miller were married Sept. 23, 1939, at Bloomfield, Mo.

Except for a couple of years during World War II, he farmed in the Bell City area his entire adult life, retiring from active farming at the age of 77.

Survivors include a son, Ernest H. VanHooser (Linda) of Raymore, Mo.; a daughter, Barbara Joan Stewart (C.D.) of Bloomfield; seven grandchildren, Sarah VanHooser Suiter (Ryon) of Nashville, Tenn., Stephen VanHooser of Raymore, Michael VanHooser and Andrew VanHooser of Columbia, Mo., Courtney Stewart Yarbrough (Will) of Bloomfield, Ashley Stewart Graviett (Jeremy) of Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, and Colin Stewart (Katie) of Bloomfield; and three great-grandchildren, Smith A. Suiter, Kaelyn Yarbrough and Molly Yarbrough.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Aletha; a sister, Ethel Holt; and two brothers, Elmer and Jesse Hoosier.

Friends may call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Mo.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. William Fox officiating. Burial will be in Morgan Memorial Park.